VENFORD E. CAR PARK.
It was typical Dartmoor weather, thick mist and pouring rain and good breeze. Off we set, six hardy souls.
Up the hill on the road for a bit to find the leat which didn’t seem to exist. My phone was playing up, it didn’t like being in a damp case but with a little help from others and map and compass we eventually came across the leat which was just a trickle in the long grass. Upwards to a loop in another leat and using various paths to the standing stone on Sandy Way. Heading west for a bit we then cut left to find Hapstead Ford, a sheltered spot for coffee. A decision was made to miss out Snowdon and head for Ryders Hill, so following the infant Mardle two standing stones and a trig point soon appeared in the mist. A bearing down the track to the Sandy Way again and on to the girts below Holne Ridge where we dropped into one for lunch. More deep workings and the impressive disused mine lead us to a stream to follow to the western boundary of Venford. Along the fence and over the dam to the cars. On the way we met the only other person of the day a SW water employee from Burrator who had spent the day walking round the reservoir with his pole saw trimming back branches - nice job!
Mike